Authorities in eastern Congo and a local civil society group said Thursday they discovered mass graves in conflict-hit regions.
The graves were found in areas recently abandoned by the M23 rebel group, even as fighting continues despite a U.S.-mediated peace agreement.
South-Kivu province Governor Jacques Purusi reported that officials uncovered two mass graves near the major city of Uvira, containing over 171 bodies.
“One site in Kiromoni, close to the Burundian border, holds approximately 30 bodies, while another in Kavimvira contains 141 remains,” Purusi explained.
The grim discovery paints a harrowing portrait of violence and suffering in eastern Congo, long plagued by rebel activity and instability.
The Associated Press could not independently verify the claims, reflecting the challenges of reporting in regions with limited access and security risks.
M23’s spokesperson had not responded to requests for comment, leaving the rebel group’s perspective on the killings unconfirmed and shrouded in uncertainty.
Local residents and human rights observers expressed alarm, warning that such discoveries may inflame tensions and complicate ongoing peace negotiations in the region.
The findings underscore persistent instability in eastern Congo, where decades of armed conflict have repeatedly devastated communities and displaced thousands of civilians.
Authorities called for calm while pledging further investigations into the graves, as international and local observers urged accountability for the victims.
The United States and other diplomatic actors continue to monitor the region, pressing for adherence to the peace deal and humanitarian protections.
As the investigation unfolds, the world watches a region scarred by conflict, where the echoes of violence remain painfully visible in the earth.